Method of washing filter-sand.



P. J. A. MAIGNEN. METHOD OF WASHING FILTER SAND. APPLICATION 211.21)0012.13.1905.

924,682. Patented June 15, 1909.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PROSPER JEAN AUGUSTE MAIGNEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF WASHING FILTER-SAND.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Pnosrnn JEAN AU- eUs'rE MAIGNEN, of Philadelphia, inthe State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Methods of Washing Filter-Sand, whereof the following isa specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention may be employed with par ticular advantage in cleansingfilter sand, although applicable to other comminuted materials.

Hitherto filter sand has been cleansed by several different methods, asfollows: First :A jet of water under pressure is directed from ahose, orotherwise, against a certain quantity of sand lying on an inclinedplane; the sand being pushed back by spades or otherwise after it hasflowed down with the wash water. This method is not only slow and costlybut it effects the stratification of the sand and the separation of thefine from the coarse particles. sucked up by water flo "ing under highpressure in what is known as ejector-hoppers and made to travel inpipes, during which travel it is agitated and washed by the movingwater. Sometimes the sand and the wash water are pumped up together andlikewise washed by the agitating motion of the flowing water. In thesemethods, the sand and the wash water are generally discharged together;the sand accumulating in heaps and the wash water flowing over it andcarrying the particles of sand to different distances ac cording to thevelocity of the discharged wash water and the size and specific gravityof the particles of sand, while some of the mud carried by the washwater flowing over the sand, remains in the latter.

Third :A series of ejector-hoppers are also employed, and, a strong jetof water meets an incoming quantity of sand and forces it to passthrough pipes from one hopper to the other; the operation being repeateda certain number of times according to the degree of cleansing required.In this method a considerable quantity of the fine sand is washed awaywith the mud; some of it is caught in catch-pits and although it may berewashed and remixed with the coarser sand it cannot be restored to itsoriginal intimate relation, wherein the interstices be tween the coarseparticles were filled by the fine particles.

Fourth :The sand is revolved in screens Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 13, 1905.

Second '.--The sand is Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial No. 282,569.

or drums and is washed by a jet of water, or otherwise. In this case thescreens are quickly worn out; and the power and water required are veryconsiderable.

Fifth :*In certain so-called mechanical filters and certain sand washingmachines, the sand is washed by water flowing upward; diverse forms ofmechanical agitators or arrangements for the use of compressed air beingemployed to stir up the sand and wash it by upward current. Such devicesalso stratify the sand according to the size and specific gravity of theparticles; the finer being lifted to the top and the heavier remainingat the bottom. Sand and other comniinuted materials have also beenwashed by being agitated in water flowing in different directions.

In all of the methods of the prior art above specified, the wash wateris made to move against, strike or agitate the sand or other comminutedmaterial; the water is generally under pressure, and, a great quantityis always required; varying from 10 to 20 times the volume of the sandor other material to be washed. Such water is generally very costly,being not less than two cents, and in some instances as much as tencents per thousand gallons. Moreover, in all said prior processes, thereis a more or less narked stratification in accordance with the specificgravity of each particle.

It is the object of my invention to provide a method of washing sand andother comminuted materials without stratifying them; without loss of thefiner portions thereof, and with the minimum expenditure of wash water.

To this end, my invention consists in raising the material which it isintended to wash, and discharging it so that it falls through space intoa body of water. Such material may be either allowed to gravitatevertically or be forcibly projected vertically, obliquely or otherwise,and the water into which it falls may be at atmospheric pressure.However, in any case it is essential to the process herein claimed thatthe material under treatment shall have an uninterrupted fall throughair to such an extent and in such a manner as to diffuse or separate itsgrains, so as to permit direct impact of each grain with the water, andthereby engender sufficient force to detach the adhering undesirablematter from the individual grains as the result of such impact.

It may be observed that the present method is distinguished from thoseof the prior art above recited in that whereas hitherto the materials tobe washed have been struck, conveyed or agitated by water, it ischaracteristic of my method that the materials themselves are made tostrike the water.

The materials are taken out of the Water when the force of their impacttherein has eflected the desired cleaning operation, after which theyare not redirtied, as is the case in other methods, by their contactwith muddy water. There is no stratification of the washed materialsbecause they are acted upon in small quantities and they are not at anytime influenced. by the laws of sedimentation or of currents which areeffective with comminuted materials flowing in or with water. Moreover,the quantity of water re quired by my improved method aforesaid is notone-twentieth part of that ordinarily required by the methods of theprior art aforesaid, and, the small quantity of water is not required tobe under pressure and is therefore less costly than that used in theother methods aforesaid.

In the drawing, I have shown a sectional 3 elevation of a simpleapparatus which may be conveniently employed to carry out my methodaforesaid comprising the receptacle 1, for the mass of dirty sand 2,and, the endless belt conveyer 8, provided with the buck 1 ets 4,supported in said receptacle 1, by the drum 5, on the shaft 6. Saidconveyer 3, is supported above said receptacle 1, by the drum 7, on theshaft 9, so that it overhangs the receptacle 11, containing the body ofWater 12, into which the sand 2, falls as indicated. The mass of sand14, in said rece tacle 11, having been Washed by striking t 1e water 12,is uplifted by the endless conveyer 16, provided with the buckets 17,supported in said receptacle 11, by the drum 18, on the shaft 19. Saidconveyer 16, is supported above said receptacle 11, by the drum 20, onthe shaft 21.

The Washed sand 14, may be discharged from said conveyer 16, to fallinto the mass 23, as indicated, or may be otherwise disposed of.

Although I have shown belt conveyers as convenient means for elevatingthe com minuted material which is to be treated by my process, it is tobe understood that any other means may be employed whereby the materialmay be lifted into space and made to fall into the water.

The Water in which the Washing takes place may be quiescent, that is tosay, it may be used without being changed as long as may be desired, or,it may have a motion upwardly, laterally or downwardly and be renewed atintervals or constantly as may be found desirable.

It is to be understood that the term "space herein employed to designatethat through which the sand falls, is used in a descriptive and not in.a restrictive sense, that is to say, said space may be filled withatmospheric air, steam, or gas. Moreover, it is to be understood thatthe term Water is intended to include any liquid which may be employedas described.

I claim:

1. The process of washing comminuted material, which consists in causingthe uninterrupted fall of the same into a body of liq}; uid inquantities small enough and throng space suiiicient to permit suchdiffusion or separation of the grains during fall as to give directimpact with said liquid, and thereby engender suflicient force to detachthe adhering undesirable matter by such impact.

2. The process of washing sand, which consists in causing theuninterrupted fall of the same into a body of water in quantities smallenough and through space suiiicient to permit such diilusion orseparation of the grains during fall as to give direct impact with saidliquid, and thereby engender sufficient force to detach the adheringundesirable matter by such impact.

3. The process of washing a mass of comminuted material by causing theuninterrupted i'all of the same into a body of liquid, which consists inelevating said material and forcibly discharging it in successivequantities small enough and through space sufficient to permit suchdiiiusion or separation of the grains during fall as to give directimpact of each grain with said liquid, and thereby engender suflicientforce to detach the adhering undesirable matter by such impact.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this 11th day of October, 1905.

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, ANNA F. GETZFREAD.

